Retractable rear view mirror

ABSTRACT

A mirror assembly for trucks, vans and the like, for providing front or rear viewing as the vehicle is moving forward or is backing up, for example, into a truck loading dock area. The mirror assembly comprises a mirror unit that is connected by a mirror arm to a support structure, e.g., a flange or bracket, that is fixed to the vehicle. The support structure projects minimally sideways of the vehicle and pivotably supports the mirror arm in a manner whereby the mirror unit and its arm can swing about a pivot axis, enabling the mirror and its arm to lie alongside a side wall of the vehicle or tightly against the rear of the vehicle. A return or rebound mechanism returns the mirror unit to its normal operational position automatically, once contact with an obstruction that has pivoted the mirror unit from its normal position, has been removed.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/083,306 filed Feb. 27, 2002 by Benjamin ENGLANDER entitledRETRACTABLE REAR VIEW MIRROR.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to front and rear mounted mirrorassemblies for motor vehicles and, more particularly, pertains to amirror assembly primarily for vehicles such as trucks, vans and the likethat do not provide direct rear and/or cross-view viewing as the vehicleis being backed up, for example, into a truck loading dock area, ormirror assembly whose mirror orientation is subject to being disturbeddue to any cause.

The use of vehicle mirror devices is known in the prior art.Conventional vehicle mirrors are available and have been utilized formany years for the purpose of aiding the vision of drivers, when backingup their vehicles. These types of mirrors basically consist of familiar,expected and known structural configurations comprising a variety ofdifferently shaped mirrors of various types that are mounted rigidly orhingedly, at forward locations or at the rear of the vehicles.

The prior art is exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 5,825,564 to Mazarac,which mounts a mirror structure on a rear surface of the vehicle, in amanner which projects an image through a rear window of the vehicle tothe rear view mirror located forward of the driver, inside the vehicle.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,302,550 to Krieg describes a rear mounted mirrorassembly for motor vehicles, including a base member coupled to a rearpanel of a motor vehicle. A pair of plates are provided, one of which isfixed to the rear surface of the vehicle, with the other being hingedlyattached thereto and supporting a pole or telescoping arm to which aconvex mirror is attached. The convex mirror can be pivoted to projectsidewise of the vehicle, in a manner that projects an image of the spacebehind the vehicle to the front of the vehicle or, more specifically, tothe side view mirror of the driver. Thereby, the driver is able to seeother vehicles and obstructions when backing out of a parking spot.

A conventional style, side-view mirror which is attached to either thedriver door or to the driver-side front fender is described in U.S. Pat.No. 6,239,928 to Whitehead, et al. That mirror is able to pivot about apivoting axis, so that if it hits an obstruction, it does not break off.It is also provided with a plurality of detents at which its pivotingposition can be fixed.

Conventional side-view mirrors are typically located near the driver,within hand reach. Or, they are adjustable electrically through remoteoperation. In any event, if such a side-view mirror is hit by anobstruction, or needs to be moved to accommodate a tight space, thedriver can simply reach out and pivot the mirror body to avoid hittingobstacles. This is not easily done with rear mounted mirror assembliesthat are mounted on a rear surface of a truck or van or with mirrorassemblies located on the front fenders.

The present applicant is further unaware of any rear mounted mirrorassembly that is capable of swinging out of the way when encountering anobstruction and thereafter automatically returning to its originalposition when the contact with the obstruction has ceased.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple to use rearor front mounted mirror assembly for mirror vehicles such as trucks,vans and the like.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a mirrorassembly that is simple and inexpensive to construct.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mirror assembly thatpermits the vehicle to back up or drive against a wall or the weatherstripping surrounding the door of a loading dock, without causing damageto the mirror assemblies or to the vehicle.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a rearmounted mirror assembly that is particularly suitable for backing uptrucks or vans into tight spaces, such as those that are bound by a pairof sidewalls, whose separation is comparable to the width of thevehicle.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide mirror assemblies thatincrease safety and facilitate driving.

The foregoing other objects of the invention are realized with a rearmounted mirror assembly in accordance with the present invention whichcomprises a mirror unit that is connected by a mirror arm to a supportstructure, e.g., a flange or bracket, that is fixed to the vehicle. Thesupport structure projects sideways of the vehicle and pivotallysupports the mirror arm in a manner whereby the mirror unit and its armcan swing about a pivot axis, enabling the mirror and its arm to liealongside a sidewall of the vehicle or tightly against the rear of thevehicle, or swing about a vertical pivot axis when mounted on the frontfender of a vehicle.

In accordance with further embodiments of the invention, the mirrorassembly includes a return or rebound mechanism which automaticallyreturns the mirror to a normal or original position when contact with anobstruction has ceased. Preferably, the mirror unit comprises a convexmirror and the mounting bracket is mounted to the driver-side, side wallof the vehicle and the mirror unit is so positioned that it is capableof reflecting an image from an area facing the rear wall of the vehicleto the driver-side, side-view mirror.

In accordance with further embodiments of the invention, the mirror armis so shaped as to surround the perimeter of the mirror unit, so thatobstructions make contact with the mirror arm, rather than with themirror unit, so as not to disturb the positioning of the mirror unitrelative to the arm. Still further embodiments of the inventionincorporate into the mirror assembly electromechanical apparatus thatsenses the contact with an obstruction and automatically pulls themirror assembly away from its normal position, as needed for protection.A further electromechanical mechanism is coupled to the electricalsystem of the truck or the van and pulls the rear mounted mirrorassembly behind the truck or the van during normal driving conditions,in order to improve aerodynamics, avoid the mirror contacting treebranches, or other obstructions during normal driving conditions.

Further embodiments allow the mirror assembly to be mounted on the frontfender, to absorb impacts applied thereto from front, rear and sidewaysdirections and to rebound to its desired, pre-adjusted position uponremoval of the impacting forces.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description of the invention which refers tothe accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 perspectively shows a truck with the rear mounted mirror assemblyof the present invention mounted thereto.

FIG. 2 is an enlargement of a portion of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a further perspective showing a detail of the mirror supportassembly of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 provides a diagram of the mirror assembly of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a further perspective showing a different embodiment for theconstruction of the bracket assembly for the mirror unit of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 a is an illustration showing the range of movement of the mirrorassembly of the present invention.

FIG. 6 b shows a modified mirror arm shape for the mirror assembly ofthe present invention.

FIGS. 7 a and 7 b perspectively illustrate modified mirror arms andsupport brackets for the mirror of the present invention.

FIG. 8 shows an electrically actuatable rear mounted mirror assembly ofthe present invention, in accordance with another variation thereof.

FIG. 9 shows a further electromechanical assembly for keeping the mirrorunit of the rear mounted mirror assembly behind the truck during normaldriving conditions to improve the aerodynamics and avoid hittingobstructions.

FIG. 10 perspectively shows a mirror assembly with a mounting mechanismthat enables swiveling of the mirror unit and rebounding of the mirrorunit to an original position.

FIG. 11 shows the mirror assembly of FIG. 10 from a differentperspective.

FIG. 12 shows the mirror assembly of FIG. 10 with the swiveling andrebounding mechanism in an exploded view.

FIG. 13 is an enlargement of a portion of the circled portion of FIG.11.

FIG. 14 shows the mirror assembly of FIG. 10 from a different direction.

FIG. 15 provides a top view of FIG. 11.

FIG. 16 shows an assembly such as in FIG. 11 mounted on a front fenderof a vehicle.

FIG. 16 a is an enlargement of a portion of FIG. 16.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a rear mounted mirror assembly 10 for avehicle 12 is shown mounted at or very close to the rear end, at theleft hand side panel or wall 14 of the vehicle 12. An image reflected bythe mirror unit 30, which shows the general space behind and to thesides of the vehicle 12 is reflected to the front mounted, side-viewmirror 18, enabling the driver in the driver seat 20 to safely backup orto survey the environment in and about the rear panel or wall 16 of thevehicle 12.

The rear mounted mirror assembly 10 essentially comprises the mirrorunit 30 which is swivelably attached to one end of a mirror support armor pole 40, whose other terminal end 47 is rotatably or pivotablymounted in a bracket or flange 50. The bracket 50 is fixedly attached tothe side wall 14 or to the rear wall 16 of the vehicle 12. The bulk ofthe rear mounted mirror assembly, including the arm 40 and the mirrorunit 30, projects sideways and to the rear relative to the vehicle 12.

Some loading docks have U-shaped, foam-based weather strippings aroundthe loading dock openings (not shown), against which a vehicle, such asthe truck 12, backs up for making deliveries, enabling sealing theinterior of the truck to the loading dock. This prevents the cold, rainor winter elements from affecting the interior of the loading dock. Inany event, trucks sometimes need to back up very close against a solidwall. In all cases, the mirror assembly 10 of the present invention willinterfere with the backing up operation against the weather stripping ofloading docks or such rear walls.

In accordance with one feature of the present invention, the mirrorassembly is outfitted with a mechanism that enables the mirror assemblystructure to rotatably or movably yield to the pressure from theobstruction, in a manner which prevents the mirror assembly frombreaking or distorting or from damaging surfaces of the vehicle orloading dock, etc. Thus, the mirror assembly 10 rotates or pivots ormoves out of the way of the obstruction. Secondarily, the mirrorassembly of the present invention also incorporated a mechanism whichrestores the mirror to its original, predetermined position once contactwith the obstruction has ended.

With further reference to FIG. 2, the mirror unit 30 includes acircumscribing gasket or border 32 and a rear mounted pivotable screwmechanism 34 by which the mirror unit 30 is attached to the hole portionof the arm 40. The arm or pole has a first section 42 that bends into asecond section 44 and bends again to form a third section 46 whichcomprises the terminal end of the arm which is pivotably received in thebracket 50. The bracket 50 has a main body portion 51 which defines anopening in which a sleeve 56 is located. The sleeve in turn rotatablyholds the arm portion 46, which protrudes from the bottom of the bracketbody 51, in a manner whereby the arm is normally resiliently biased tobe pulled deeper into the opening by a spring 52. A flange portion 54 ofthe bracket 50 is affixed by a plurality of screws 56 or by welding orby any fastening means to the side wall 14 or, optionally, to the rearpanel 16 of the vehicle 12. A shock-absorbing stopper or protector 60assures that the mirror unit 30 will not be damaged or cause damage asit swings against the side wall 14 of the vehicle 12.

FIG. 3 shows the ball and socket swivel arrangement 38 for the screwmechanism 34, which is mounted at the rear panel 36 of the mirror unit30. Further illustrated is a detent 62 in the main body of the bracket50, which engages a corresponding depression (not shown) in the terminalarm portion 46, to define a precise, predetermined, normal rotationalposition for the mirror arm 40.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the mirrorassembly 10 is provided with a return or rebound mechanism thatautomatically restores the arm and, therefore, the mirror unit 30 thatit holds, to the normal position. The operation of such return mechanismis shown by reference to the somewhat differently constructed bracketassembly illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 4. In this figure, the arm40 is supported in a bracket that has a base piece 64 which, togetherwith a cover piece 66, defined therebetween a cylindrical opening forthe arm 40. The terminal end of the arm 40 extends beyond thecylindrical opening and is resiliently biased to pull the arm deeperinto the opening by the normally compressed spring 52, which pressesboth against the terminal bottom side of the overall bracket and theprotruding pin 72 that passes through the terminal end of the arm 40.

The downward biasing force of the spring 52 is restrained by a pin 70,which passes through the arm 40 above the bracket and which rests insidea V-shaped opening 68 that is defined in the cover piece 66 of thebracket.

Operationally, when the arm 40 is rotated in the cylindrical opening,the pin 70 bears tightly against the sloping surfaces 67 a and 67 bwhich define the V-shaped cutout in the bracket 66, causing the arm 40to rise in the opening against the force of the spring 52. However, assoon as the rotational force on the arm 40 is removed, the counterforceexerted by the spring 52 in the direction of the arrow 53 causes the pinto rotate the arm 40 to restore the mirror's angular position to itsoriginal state.

The mounting bracket can be connected to the vehicle by a plurality ofscrews 56. Moreover, the normal position of the mirror 40 is preciselydefined due to a detent and snap structure 62, whereby a portion of thearm snaps into a corresponding detent structure in the bracket. Also,the round pin 70 can be formed as an inverted triangle 71 to providebetter traction and structural strength, and be so formed on the arm 40as to complement the shape of the cutout 68. FIG. 5 shows theconstruction of FIG. 4, with the minor variant that the cutout 70 isprovided in a separate sleeve portion 74.

The range of pivoting movement of the mirror assembly 10 is illustratedin FIG. 6 a, showing the mirror unit 30 against either the side panel 14or the rear panel 16 of the vehicle 12. As shown, the mirror has anormal position at which it provides the optimal image that is reflectedto the driver's side view mirror. Thus, if the truck 12 backs up againsta solid wall, the mirror assembly is rotated clockwise in the directionof the arrow 57. Indeed, an obstruction has the ability of pivoting themirror arm to a degree that it could come to bear against the side wallof the side panel 14, protected by the resilient stopper, shown in FIG.2. Thus, the entire mirror assembly can be pushed back due to itsengagement with an obstruction, without breaking. However, as soon asthe truck moves away from the obstruction, the mirror automaticallysnaps back or rebounds to its normal position. Similarly, if the mirrorassembly engages or contacts a side wall, the mirror assembly can swingcounterclockwise in the direction of arrow 55, whereby it becomespositioned behind the rear panel 16 of the truck 12.

Shown in dashed lines 40 a is a somewhat differently shaped arm 40 forthe mirror unit 30, which is so constructed that it partially, orsubstantially fully surrounds the mirror unit 30 in such a manner thatin normal use, it is the arm, rather than the mirror unit 30 thatengages the obstruction. This assures that the swivelably mounted mirrorunit's position relative to the mirror arm will not be altered. FIG. 6 bshows another variant, i.e., a differently shaped mirror bracket 40 b.

In the mirror assembly shown in FIG. 7 a, the differently shaped mirrorarm 40 c is slidingly (rather than rotatably) received in a sliderbracket 80 which comprises a base 82, which is affixed to the vehicle byany known means (not shown), e.g., screws, etc. and which comprises anddefines a cylindrical opening 88 in which the terminal portion 86 of thearm 40 c slidingly received. In normal use, the arm 40 c is biasedoutwardly by a spring 90 which bears against a pin 83, disposing themirror assembly to the side and rear of the vehicle 12. However, if themirror assembly unit 30 is pressed against an obstruction, the arm 40 cexerts a force against spring 90, causing the terminal end 86 thereof toprotrude and the mirror assembly to slide in until the rear of thetruck, rather than the mirror, engages the obstruction. However, as soonas the obstruction force is removed, the mirror returns to its originalposition. The sliding motion of the mirror unit is indicated by thetwo-sided arrow 87.

FIG. 7 b illustrates the slider mechanism of FIG. 7 a, except thatinstead of the arm 48 being received in the sliding cylinder, a shorttubular bracket 40 d affixed to the underside of the bracket 50 by anarrow web that is thinner than the opening 41 a into the cylindricalchannel 88, slides within the channel 88. The bracket is otherwise thebracket 50 of FIGS. 1 and 2. This enables the bracket which supports thearm 40 to slide in the structure 80 in the manner described above. Thus,the arrangement of FIG. 7 b enables the mirror unit 30 to both rotate,as well as slide relative to the truck 12. The stopper 41 b prevents thebracket 50 from sliding out of the channel 88.

In a further embodiment, a pair of parallel ones of the cylindricalopening 88 is provided in the slider bracket 80 and the bracket 50 isprovided with a pair of the short tubes 40 d, thus protecting thebracket 50 against twisting.

FIG. 8 illustrates an electrically operable embodiment in which theoverall mirror assembly is capable of being pulled back by an electricalmechanism comprising a cylinder or solenoid 100 that serves to pull theentire mirror assembly backward against the side panel of the truck 12.In this embodiment, the arm 40 a is fitted with an electrical contactdetector strip 92 which, whenever touched by any obstruction, sends anelectrical signal over wire 94, which wire passes through the arm 40 ainto the bracket 50 and then to an electrical box 96 located on eitherside or inside the vehicle 12. The electrical mechanism 96 sends asignal over the wire 98 to the solenoid 100, causing its telescopic arm102 to contract, and thus pull the arm 48, via a spring 103, against theforce exerted in the bracket 50 to the position shown. As soon ascontact with the obstruction is lost, the contact strip 92 removes itssignal and the mirror rapidly returns to its original position.

The electrical system described above is intended not to interfere withthe ability of the mirror to swing not only alongside, but also behindthe truck 12. The inventor herein also contemplates providing thatarrangement in the rear of the truck and operate it so that the mirrorunit is normally pivoted behind the truck during normal driving and isallowed to swing to its normal position only when the truck is operatedin reverse gear. For this embodiment, the signal for operating thecylinder 110 (FIG. 9) that is located at the rear of the truck isprovided to the electrical controller 116 from within the drivercompartment or by tapping the reverse light signal or by placing aphotoptical sensor over the backup light to produce such a signal,whereby only when the vehicle is being backed up is the mirror unit inits extended position. Thus, during the normal driving conditions, thecylinder 110 will be so energized through the telescoping arm 112 andthe spring 114, as to pull the arm 40 toward the rear of the vehicle,improving the aerodynamics of the overall vehicle, and preventing themirror unit from snagging tree branches or other obstructions. However,as soon as the vehicle is placed in reverse gear, the electricalcontroller 116 is so controlled that the cylinder removes its force andenables the arm 40 to rebound or snap back to what has been earliertermed as its “normal” position.

Heretofore, the mirror assemblies of the present invention with theirmechanism for allowing swiveling of the mirror units and the reboundingof the mirror units to their original position have been shown inconnection with embodiments that have illustrated the placement thereoftoward the rear of a vehicle. However, as would be readily apparent toone of ordinary skill in the art, the same mirror structure can beplaced on locations which are more forward, or even at the very frontend, on the front fender of a vehicle.

FIGS. 16 and 16 a show a mirror assembly located on the very frontportion of a vehicle fender, utilizing a mechanism that allows themirror assembly to absorb an impact force directed from the front or therear along the vehicle direction, as well as any force that is directedsideways. In either event, the mirror structure will swivel, rather thanbreak, and moreover, if the impact does not turn the mirror more than90°, will allow the mirror units to rebound, i.e., return, to theiroriginally adjusted positions. While in the ensuing discussion, mirrorassemblies are shown which utilize a pair of convex mirrors, a single,convex mirror may be utilized that provides an image both alongside andin front of the vehicle. Furthermore, while mirror units are being shownthat have a circular periphery, any convex mirror shape may be utilized,including those with peripheral shapes that are oval or which have aperipheral shape that defines half of a circle or any mirror shapewhatsoever.

Turning to FIG. 10, a mirror assembly 120 comprises a rotatable shaft ormirror pole 122 which is reentrantly bent as will be described, andwhich supports in accordance with the present embodiment, a pair ofmirror units 124 and 126. These mirror units can be oriented so that oneprovides a view generally alongside a vehicle and the other along thefront of the vehicle.

As noted, the mirror units which are supported by the main mirror pole122 are secured to a vehicle body by support structure 128, which has atleast one surface that can be attached to the vehicle by means ofscrews, bolts, or by soldering or by any known means of attachment. Alsoincluded is a swiveling and rebounding mechanism 130 which allows thepole 122 to swivel when the mirrors or the upper pole portion are struckby an accidental or deliberate force, so that the assembly can rotateclockwise or counterclockwise in reaction to such a force. Further, oncethe force is removed, the orientation of the mirror rebounds or returnsto the original position, as shall be described.

Turning to FIG. 11, it is initially noted that the main mirror supportpole 122 has a reentrantly bent section 122 a which is disposed behindone of the mirrors 124 and an extension 122 b, which leads and supportsthe second mirror 126. The mirror support structure 128′ differs inminor details from the corresponding bracketry 128 in FIG. 10, butincludes generally the same structure which allows the pole 122 toswivel and return or rebound to an original position.

With specific reference to FIG. 12, it can be seen that the swivelingand rebounding mechanism 130 comprises and includes, in accordance withone embodiment thereof, a vehicle mounting bracket 128 which includes aportion 128 b with screw holes that enable securing the structure to avehicle. The bracket 128 includes an upper inwardly directed flange 128d, which has a circular hole 120f for the passage therethrough of thefree end of the pole 122. Juxtaposed to the flange 128 d is a lowerflange 128 e with an opening 128 g which allows the very distal end ofthe pole 122 to pass therethrough. Between the flanges 128 d and 128 eare disposed a spring 132, a washer 134, an upper and outer sleeve 138which fits over and surrounds, as well as receives, a lower sleeve 140.The lower sleeve has cam surfaces 142 a, 142 b, 142 c and 142 d, asshown, and the upper sleeve 136 comprises corresponding andcomplimentary camming surfaces 136 a, 136 b, etc. The washer 134 fitswithin a seat at the top of the upper sleeve 136. An opening 138 in theupper sleeve allows a pin 138 a (FIG. 11 and FIG. 13) to penetratethrough a hole in the shaft 122, as shown in FIG. 13. Therefore, thepole 122 rotates together with the upper sleeve 136. In contrast, thelower sleeve 140 is rotationally fixed to the lower flange 128 e and isnot rotatable relative to the bracket 128 a.

In operation, therefore, if a rotational force is applied to the mirrorunit or units at the other end of the pole 122, the mirror and its polewill rotate and, with it, rotate the upper sleeve 136 which will causeits camming surfaces to ride up and rise on the lower camming surfaces142 a, 142 b, 142 c and 142 d. As long as the rotational force applied(whether clockwise or counterclockwise) displaces the pole less than90°, as soon as the force is removed, the force applied by the spring132 will cause the sleeve to counter-rotate the pole and so return thepole and its mirrors to their original position.

The manner in which the upper sleeve 136 fits over and mates with thelower sleeve 140 can be seen in FIG. 13. FIG. 14 illustrates thecompleted assembly in an elevational view. As can be appreciated fromFIG. 15, the portion 122 a of the pole 122 is reentrantly bent andshaped so that it reaches out and protects the mirror 124 from anyobstruction that may be typically encountered when the vehicle drivesforward and its mirror encounters an impact from the direction of thearrow F1. That is, the pole portion 122 a extends sufficiently away fromthe vehicle to be coextensive with the outer perimeter of the mirror124, as shown. Thus, as described above, the mirror pole and its supportstructure allow the entire mirror assembly to swivel clockwise orcounterclockwise, as indicated by the arrows F2 and the reboundingmechanism will return the mirror to its original orientation once theforce is removed.

Although the present invention has been described in relation toparticular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modificationsand other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It ispreferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by thespecific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.

1. A mirror system for facilitating driving of a vehicle, the systemcomprising: a mirror assembly that is suitable for being mounted to avehicle body; at least one mirror arm having a mirror holding portionand a mounting portion; a mirror unit mechanically coupled to the mirrorholding portion of the mirror arm; a mounting bracket having a firstportion that is securable to the vehicle body, the mounting brackethaving a mirror arm holding portion that defines a receiving opening inwhich the mounting portion of the mirror arm is pivotably supported, themirror unit being so mounted, that the mirror unit is at least partiallydisposed outwardly relative to a portion of the vehicle body, themounting arm having a predetermined position and a range of movementthat allows the mirror unit to swing in clockwise and counterclockwisedirections relative to the predetermined position in response to aforce; and a rebounding mechanism which is structured to return themirror unit to the predetermined position upon removal of the force. 2.The mirror system of claim 1, wherein the rebounding mechanism has astructure that returns the mirror unit to the predetermined positionwhen the mirror unit swings in either the clockwise or counterclockwisedirections over a range of not more than 90°.
 3. The mirror system ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one mirror arm comprises a re-entrantlybent mirror pole.
 4. The mirror system of claim 1, wherein therebounding mechanism comprises an upper sleeve which is rotatablyinterfitted with a lower sleeve, the upper sleeve and the lower sleevecomprising corresponding and complimentary camming surfaces which areresiliently biased toward one another to cause the camming surface ofthe upper sleeve to rise or descend on the camming surface of the lowersleeve, coming to a rest at a position which returns the mirror unit tothe predetermined position.
 5. The mirror system of claim 4, wherein therebounding mechanism includes a bracket with an upper inwardly directedflange and a lower flange and the upper and lower sleeves beingmechanically disposed between the upper and the lower flanges.
 6. Themirror system of claim 4, wherein the upper sleeve is constructed to fitover and surround, as well as receive, the lower sleeve.
 7. The mirrorsystem of claim 6, wherein the lower sleeve is mechanically fixed to aflange of the rebounding mechanism and the upper sleeve is mounted to berotatable relative to the flange.
 8. The mirror system of claim 7,wherein a distal portion of the at least one mirror arm is mounted sothat it penetrates through the upper sleeve, the lower sleeve and theflange.
 9. The mirror system of claim 4, wherein the upper and lowersleeves are resiliently biased toward one another with a spring.
 10. Themirror system of claim 1, the mirror unit comprising a convex mirror.11. The mirror system of claim 1, wherein the at least one mirror armcomprises a portion that is shaped to protect the mirror unit againstcontacting obstructions.
 12. The mirror system of claim 1, in which theat least one mirror arm comprises a plurality of mirror support arms.13. The mirror system of claim 4, wherein at least one of the upper andlower sleeves comprises such camming surface that is V-shaped.
 14. Themirror system of claim 1, in combination with a front fender of avehicle, wherein the mounting bracket is attached to the front fender ofthe vehicle.